Engine oil replacement in-between recommended maintenance services?

I own Civic LX 2005. According to the Honda service book the first
service is after 10k miles or 1 year and the subsequent service is
after 20k miles or 1 year. In both cases the engine oil is replaced.
Today, I had my first car maintenance (~9500k miles) and the oil was
replaced (first time), tires rotated etc. However, they want me to come
back to change oil again after 12500k miles, which is way before the
second maintenance is due. Is that normal? According to the service
book the next oil replacement is not neeed until 20k miles or 1 year
whichever comes first. I'm confused. Thanks.

 

I forgot to add that the invoice states that a 11,250 mile service was
performed and the next one is scheduled at 15,000 miles. These
schedules are nowhere in the Honda's service book.

 

I personally likr to use the 6 mo. 6000 mile oil change interval. I think
10000 is too long but also think you should never change under 5000 miles.
This has always worked for me. Scott

 

The dealer will do more maintenance than necessary if you let them. They're
trying to make money off you. The most famous overkill maintenance item is
to tell the customer that oil must/should be changed every 3000 miles.

Not so. Trust your manual.

On the other hand, unless your car is using synthetic oil, 10k miles is on
the high side. So, is synthetic oil used in your car's engine?

 

My 2003 Civic also has a 10,000 change interval.
At 8500 miles, the oil is still translucent, and not down enough to add
any. I think 10,000 miles is a reasonable interval for the car.
I have 55,000 on it now, with 10,000 mile oil changes.

My Honda dealer doesn't recommend early service. I do get email reminders
that are very close to accurate mileage, reminding me that it's time to
come in soon, at 10,000 mile intervals.

 

Ah--but then consider that those two extra oil changes are cheap
insurance.

And I mean, CHEAP insurance.

Not a big deal at all.

 

follow the book. the dealer would love for you to come back *every day*
for an oil change.

as a side note... its 10k between changes now? damn. my 98 has the 7500
mile changes. id probably wanna go with synthetic if i was going to do
10k oil changes

 

i would ONLY follow the book, and consider a different dealer. one that
doesnt make shit up to try to confuse you.

 

Ignoring that "make shit up" thing will majorly mess up your engine over
time.

NOBODY on this PLANET conforms to the "regular" service schedule, no matter
how much you or Honda's marketing department might want them to.

How long do you plan to keep the car?

-- Three years then trade it in?
Change the oil once a year and forget about it in between.

-- Forever?
Change the oil every 2,500 miles and toss the idiots who think that's a
ripoff.

 

On the other hand, unless your car is using synthetic oil, 10k miles is on

I'm not sure what kind of oil. They could use a regular this time and
perhaps that's why they want me to come back after 2,500 miles.

 

OK, thanks to all for trying to clear this out. I was advised by
someone to go by what dealer says since the dealership is responsible
for the car. It may cost me more but on the other hand I have an extra
insurance. Next time I will ask them why they didn't follow the book.
I also forgot to mention that I drive a lot, around 3k miles a month.

 

Jerzy, asking the dealer exactly what brand and type of oil they put into
your car is a perfectly valid and commonly asked question. For what it's
worth, may I suggest you not be shy about making a quick call and making
this inquiry?

You have a nice fairly new car. Get to know it well, and you'll have more
money for other things.

?

12500 - 9500 = 3000 miles, the oil change frequency mantra of dealers trying
to make money from excessive and unnecessary oil changes.

 

Honda designed the car, warrants it, and knows more about it than
anyone else, and oil is now much better than it was even 10 years ago.
But dealers love to sell and oversell service, especially maintenance
work, which is relatively easy and very predictable, unlike diagnostic
work charged at a flat rate.

The only way to know when oil needs to be changed is by sending a
sample of the used oil to a lab (Caterpillar dealers can get it done),
but that can cost almost as much as an oil & filter change. Still I'd
have it done anyway at the 1st and 2nd changes and maybe every 10K
thereafter. Be sure to draw sample the same way each time, that is
either through the fill tube or at the stream of draining oil.

 

Particularly if you are driving 3000 miles per month, assuming it's not all
city driving, you probably fall well into the "normal" service schedule.
Changing oil earlier than the schedule is a waste of money.

If 3000 miles is cheap insurance, is 1000 miles better insurance?

Did you buy all of the other additions that the dealer might have
suggested, like extended warranty, "Touch of Class" paint protector,
undercoat, ... what else?

The dealer is no more or less responsible for your car with 3,000 mile
service than with 10,000 mile service, unless you don't meet the specs for
the normal service schedule.

 

There's always diminishing returns.....

So how's this: if 10K miles is fine, is 15K miles just as fine and yet
cheaper?

 

AMEN.

Its the best $25 I spend a couple of time a year.

--
http://mindprod.com/politics/iraq.html

"How many American casualties is Saddam worth?
The answer is not very damned many."
- Dick Cheney, Seattle, August 1992

Donald Rumsfeld: "If you're asking if there's a direct
link between 9/11 and Iraq, the answer is no."
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/4865948/

On May 01, 2003, President Bush declared that,
"Major combat operations in Iraq have ended."

"I'm the commander -- see, I don't need to explain --
I do not need to explain why I say things. That's the
interesting thing about being the president.
Maybe somebody needs to explain to me why they
say something, but I don't feel like I owe anybody
an explanation. "
- George Bush, Washington Post, 11-19-02

 

Not true.

They can (and will) blame YOU for anything and everything, of course
they will glady fix anything YOU did.

Listen to Tegger.
Listen to Tegger.
Listen to Tegger.
Listen to Tegger.
Listen to Tegger.
Listen to Tegger.
Listen to Tegger.

Gonna keep it? Change oil often.

I have a 96 Civic that runs in NYC traffic and it runs like
a dream. I change every 2 to 2.5K. $25 bucks a pop.

I am gonna keep this car forever. Its cheap insurance.


--
http://mindprod.com/politics/iraq.html

"How many American casualties is Saddam worth?
The answer is not very damned many."
- Dick Cheney, Seattle, August 1992

Donald Rumsfeld: "If you're asking if there's a direct
link between 9/11 and Iraq, the answer is no."
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/4865948/

On May 01, 2003, President Bush declared that,
"Major combat operations in Iraq have ended."

"I'm the commander -- see, I don't need to explain --
I do not need to explain why I say things. That's the
interesting thing about being the president.
Maybe somebody needs to explain to me why they
say something, but I don't feel like I owe anybody
an explanation. "
- George Bush, Washington Post, 11-19-02

 

Even still.....from a BUSINESS point of view, they DO want people to
buy NEW cars and not keep them forever....right?

--
http://mindprod.com/politics/iraq.html

"How many American casualties is Saddam worth?
The answer is not very damned many."
- Dick Cheney, Seattle, August 1992

Donald Rumsfeld: "If you're asking if there's a direct
link between 9/11 and Iraq, the answer is no."
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/4865948/

On May 01, 2003, President Bush declared that,
"Major combat operations in Iraq have ended."

"I'm the commander -- see, I don't need to explain --
I do not need to explain why I say things. That's the
interesting thing about being the president.
Maybe somebody needs to explain to me why they
say something, but I don't feel like I owe anybody
an explanation. "
- George Bush, Washington Post, 11-19-02